So by the time you get to the bar, you’ve probably ripped a few shots and had a shitty mixed drink or two. It’s time to change the game and order a really flirty, pretty and (sorry, guys) girly drink the minute you get the bartender’s attention.

Why? Because sex on the beach is delicious – it has vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice and orange juice. You seriously won’t even taste the alcohol. But trust me, it’s there.

If you wanna be classy but simple, whiskey sours are the way to go. Although they may not always be as glamorous as this sweet pic (sometimes they’re considered to be well drinks), it’s a great way to ease you into whiskey, if you don’t love it already.

Your basic whiskey sour will have bourbon, lemon juice and sugar. Sometimes the lemon juice is substituted with what’s called “sour mix” – lemon and lime juice mixed with simple syrup. Depending on the bar, this drink can get dangerously sour, but if you loved warheads as a kid, you’ll love this drink.

3. Woo Woo

Photo courtesy of mybestdrinks.com

Time to channel your inner woo girl.

With 2 parts vodka, 1 part peach schnapps and lots of cranberry juice, this drink will have you cheersing to everything in no time.

Alright, so I’m going to be honest with you. You’ve already had this drink. You know it like the back of your hand… it’s orange juice and vodka. That’s it.

But you need to know its official name, because now you’re old so you should probably know your shit. It’s okay to stick to your freshman year ways by drinking lots of vodka with an affordable mixer, but at least know how to order it at a bar. Don’t worry, I got you.

5. Long Island Iced Tea

Photo courtesy of betcheslovethis.com

This drink goes against everything anyone has taught you about mixing alcohol. But hey, fuck it, right?

An LIT has 4 different kinds of alcohol: gin, vodka, white rum, white tequila, as well as triple sec, coke and some lemon wedges. Drink more than one and you’ll probably blackout, but you do you.

6. Seven and Seven

Photo courtesy of liquor.com

This is another classic mixed drink disguised as a fancy bar drink because someone slapped a cool name on it. But really it’s just 7-Up and Seagram’s Seven Crown Whiskey – perfect if you’d rather not have a Jack and coke.

7. Mai Tai

Photo courtesy of seriouseats.com

So what if your birthday’s not during spring break and it’s actually, like, negative seven degrees outside. We can always pretend we’re on the beach, right?

8. Jägerbomb

Photo courtesy of huffingtonpost.co.uk

Did somebody say shots???

Originally, a Jägerbomb was a bomb shot that was mixed by dropping a shot of Jägermeister into a glass of beer. But we love our energy drinks, so now it’s more likely to be served with half a can of Red Bull. #rage

I’m sorry, but it’s time to move on from the gin bucket. Let me introduce you to my good friend, Tom.

Tommy here will hit you up with a good dose of gin, club soda, sugar, lemon juice, and maybe a cherry and an orange slice if he’s feeling generous. Go ahead, it’s okay to like this more than your janky bucket mix.

Yasssss, margs. Everyone loves them because they come in all different flavors and combinations, it’s easily the best drink everrrr.

But before you go all out and try that pomegranate marg from Chili’s (uh, yah it’s delish), get to know the basics. Simply made with tequila, lime juice and Cointreau, you’ll instantly fall in love with being legal.

Sophisticated and suave, the sidecar is a great introduction to brandy. Made with Cognac (or sometimes bourbon), Cointreau (or triple sec) and lemon juice, you’ll look and feel like you know exactly what you’re doing at the bar.

If your birthday falls on a Thursday, do you really have any other option but to #tbt it to the good ol’ days?

This classic drink is made with bourbon or rye whiskey, bitters, sugar and some club soda or water. I know it seems like a guy’s drink, but you’re finally 21 and if you’re considering it, you probably already appreciate whiskey. So screw gender norms, amiright?

That’s basically what you’re ordering when you get a martini – it’s the epitome of class. But there’s a couple of terms you should know before attempting to look your age.

A basic martini is made up of gin and dry vermouth, usually served with an olive or two. But if you want to change it up, here are the variations:

Dry – less vermouth than the standard ratioWet – more vermouth than the standard ratioDirty – addition of olive juice or olive brinePerfect – equal parts vermouth and ginWith a twist – if you’d rather have lemon over olives in your drank

Even though you may not be in NYC for your 21st (realistically you’re probably quite far from it), one day you might be, so ya might as well start preparing.

A Manhattan is made with rye or Canadian whiskey, vermouth and bitters, and is sometimes garnished with cherries. Just throw on a suit and tie or your go-to business casual dress, close your eyes and you’re basically on Wall Street.

You’ve probably realized that 21 one of the last monumental birthdays you’ll have for a while. We get it – it’s your birthday and you can cry if you want to. Or, you can refuse to be an adult with this spiked variation of your favorite childhood drink.

It’s simple: vodka, Sprite and grenadine. Feel free to throw a couple back because hey, at least you’re not living in the real world yet.

Alright, real talk: for a long time I was deathly afraid of tequila. Then I went abroad and conquered my fears by ordering a tequila sunrise with my friends, and my life was changed forever. Now I love tequila.

This drink is definitely different than the stuff you’ve been drinking in your dorm room. It’s a bit more complicated and it may take you a while to get used to the flavor, but once you do there’s no going back.

A dark ‘n’ stormy is made with ginger beer (non-alcoholic, kinda like root beer), dark rum and bitters. Yep, it’s for sure heavier than your average natty-lite, but it’s worth it.

21. Mind Eraser

Photo courtesy of wikihow.com

Served as either a shot or in a glass, this drink will do you dirty. I’m not sure how a coffee flavored liqueur can make you blackout, but whatever. You’re turning 21 – it’s the one night you’re expected to get shwasty-faced.